A Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs report shows that, during 2009 in China, in as many as 479 million times, people were victimized by all sorts of natural catastrophes; 1,528 people died or disappeared; 47.2 million hectares (116.7 million acres) of crops were damaged; and 0.84 million buildings collapsed. The direct economic loss amounted to 252.3 billion yuan (US$36.9 billion).
Expanding the Communist Party branches or subsidiaries to the non-state sector of Chinese society has become one of the focal efforts of the Party ever since the fourth session of 17th National Congress in 2009. One example is the mid-sized Nanchong City in central China’s Sichuan Province.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, after a two-day visit that Chinese president Hu Jintao made to the member of The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China and Uzbekistan agreed to boost their bilateral relationship in security, natural gas, science & technology, agriculture, trade and investment.
Xia Yeliang, a professor from Beijing University concluded that the return of “planning” and non-market allocation of resources by the State have been the cause of China’s widening income disparity. Based on his research, the income of the top 10% of the population was 23 times that of the bottom 10% in 2007 compared to 7.3 times back in 1988. As of the end of 2008 monthly pensions of government retirees was 2.1 times that of those in the non-government sector. State controlled industries such as power plants, telecommunications, petroleum, finance, insurance, utilities, and tobacco account for 55% of the total national salaries, but for a meager 8% of the national workforce.
Source: Economic News National Weekly, reprinted by ifeng.com, June 8, 2010 http://finance.ifeng.com/opinion/zjgc/20100608/2289139.shtml
The State authorities finally approved a pilot program to provide bundling services of phone, TV and Internet, reported Guangzhou Daily. According to a number of sources, details will be announced within a day or two. The approval grants the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television exclusive right to build and administer the integrated control platform for IPTV multicast, and to engage in bundled services of phone, TV and Internet.
Source: Guangzhou Daily, June 8, 2010
http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2010-06/08/content_989275.htm
Study Times published some interpretations of major changes in the Obama’s US National Security Strategy Report when compared to that of the previous U.S. administration. The new strategy has clearly abandoned the pre-emptive strike approach of the Bush Administration. Moreover, it gives priority to multilateral relationships over unilateral relationship. It highlights the significance of economy, education, technology, energy, nuclear, Internet and space activities on national security.
“The intent is to expand U.S. power and influence and build an international order that is capable of overcoming the challenges of the 21st century. At the same time one should be aware that although the U.S. national security strategy has changed to some extent, the goal remains the same. The U.S. priority is to be the dominant force of the 21st century, maintain America’s global hegemony, and to strategically adjust itself based on a given period’s needs. Once its power if fortified, the U.S. will continue to harbor hegemonic thinking."
Source: Study Times, June 7, 2010
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2010/06/07/07/07_46.htm
Xinhua republished an article from Wen Wei Po, stating that four Chinese top military leaders had visited ten countries in the past month. The Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Committee, Guo Boxiong, visited Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. The Minister of Defense, Liang Guanglei, visited Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The PLA Chief of General Staff, Chen Bingde, visited Namibia, Angola, and Tanzania. Director Li Jinai of the PLA General Political Department visited Vietnam. These visits were creative and productive as they focused on countries in Asia, Australia, and Africa at the time when the Sino-U.S. and Sino-E.U. military relationships are at a complicated stage.
The article also stated that Li Jinai’s visit to Vietnam settled some emergent issues, but it didn’t specify the details.
Source: Xinhua, June 5, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-06/05/content_13623144.htm
The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and State Council recently issued the “National Mid to Long Term Talent Development Plan (2010-2020).” The plan outlined a “Thousand People Plan” to attract 2,000 talented top-level overseas people to China for innovation or business in 5-10 years. A series of policies were created to support the talent plan, including offering preferential treatment on immigration and permanent residence, tax, insurance, housing, kids education, and spousal work arrangements, appointments to high-level leadership positions, assignments to important research projects, involvment in setting national standards, setting up government awards, establishing an overseas top talent database and a talent demand posting platform, and so on.
“Getting technology is better than getting foreign investments; getting talent is better than getting technology.” To change its economic development model, China must develop its strategic industries. Therefore, developing talent and bringing talent from overseas has become very critical.
Source: Xinhua, June 7, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-06/07/c_13337836.htm